do one's duty
Idioms-
Do one's tasks or what is expected of one. For example, He was only doing his duty when he made the children finish their work . [Early 1500s]
-
Defecate or urinate, as in Please keep the dog outdoors until he does his duty . This euphemism for attending to such needs is heard less often today. [1930s]
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"I felt it was my duty to come. I certainly felt it would be an unpleasant experience, but that's not a good enough reason not to do one's duty."
From BBC ● Dec. 5, 2013
In this moment of exaltation, to return safely to base, simply to do one’s duty, seemed too little to these fearless men.
From The Literary World Seventh Reader by John Calvin Metcalf
In my mind it has always stood as characteristic of that wonderful national resolution to do one's duty, and to make the least possible fuss about it.
From My Home in the Field of Honor by Frances Wilson Huard
Of course one must do one's duty towards a troublesome child.
From Unlucky A Fragment of a Girl's Life by Caroline Austin
To do one's duty in love and obedience, to do what is right—these are the ideas which remain with one.
From Amiel's Journal by Mrs. Humphry Ward
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
